Manchester City risk FA Cup giant killing by one of their own at Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe United goalkeeper Josh Lillis will have to put sentiment to one
side when Manchester City head to Glanford Park in the FA Cup this weekend.

By Rob Stewart

12:37PM GMT 19 Jan 2010

By virtue of the fact that Lillis’ father, Mark, played for City during the mid-80s and that his family hail from Manchester, the 22-year-old has, by his own admission, grown up as a ‘Blue’.

But despite his own allegiances, Lillis will be out to upset his relatives back in Manchester should he be handed a starting slot in the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Roberto Mancini’s Premier League high-fliers on Sunday.

He missed out when Scunthorpe faced City in the Carling Cup at Eastlands earlier this season but is now in contention for a 1st XI berth after impressing manager Nigel Adkins while covering for regular No1 Joe Murphy.

Murphy is now back in action following injury but Lillis is hoping that he has done enough to be the last line of defence against Mancini’s expensively assembled outfit.

“I was on the bench for the Carling Cup fourth round game with them in October (when Scunthorpe lost 5-1) and although we lost heavily it was a great experience for everyone,” said Derby-born Lillis.

“I’m a big Manchester City fan and although I’d been to the stadium before I’d never been in the changing rooms and seen what it was like behind the scenes.

“It was a good day for me and hopefully today will be another. I’ve been a City fan ever since I can remember. My dad’s a big Manchester City follower and all my family are from Manchester so I’ve grown up a Blue.”

Even though Scunthorpe are fighting against relegation from the Championship, Lillis is undaunted by the prospect of facing a City side that could include Patrick Vieira.

“It’s a good test for us but we fancy our chances against anybody at home, ” Lillis added. “We play quick football on a tight pitch and hopefully we can get a result.”

Scunthorpe striker Paul Hayes - whose fellow forward, Gary Hooper, is being linked with a move to Burnley - is also upbeat about his side’s chances of springing a surprise.

“You’re in the Cup to win it and play someone big,” Hayes said. “To play Manchester City at home, you can’t get much bigger than that and they’ll come here with their big stars and hopefully we'll get a Cup upset.”